Suriname is a country in South America that has no primary language of interaction for native speakers. However, Dutch speakers seem to dominate because of their language dominance in this place. However, in daily life, rather than choosing the language for the policy in education, a variety of languages are used.
So, the question remains: what is the main language in Suriname? Let's try to unpack this question.
Table of Contents
Knowing About Surinamese Culture
Surinamese culture is a mixed culture shaped by many influences. It is known for its rich music variety, including kaseko music and Indo-Carribean music traditions. Even the biennial music festival SuriPop is the country's largest music event.
Even Surinamese cuisine is extensive and is a combination of many international cuisines, including South Asian, West African, Indonesian, Chinese, Dutch, British, French, Jewish, Portuguese, and Amerindian cuisines. This has ensured that Surinamese cooking has given rise to many dishes.
Suriname also has a rich tradition of oral literature, such as folktales, legends, heroic epics, and fairy tales. The place is also famous for its rich handicraft industry. The name Surinamese can also be heard in many popular games, including the Olympics.
This varied cultural identity and its different facets are characteristic of the different languages of Surinamese. Let us know what is the main language in Suriname.
What is the Main Language in Suriname? Does It Have a Main Language?
Since Suriname is a place of mixed culture, it is difficult to answer the question of what is the main language in Suriname. However, the more pertinent question is whether it has a main language at all.
The main language of Suriname is Dutch, which is the official language and the most popular language in the country. 60% of the population identify themselves as native speakers of Surinamese Dutch. The Dutch language was introduced in Suriname after the Paramaribo region became a Dutch colony. However, the use and standardization of this language are regulated by the Dutch Language Union.
After this, the second most popular vernacular language is Sranan Tongo or Taki-Taki, which is a form of Creole language, though it is English-based. It is also used as the lingua franca, which is spoken by the Surinamese Dutch, Javanese Surinamese, and Hindustani speakers. It is considered to be a combination of the Dutch, Portuguese, English, and African languages that were spoken in Suriname in the 16th and 20th centuries.
Apart from these two main languages, Javanese Suriname and Sarnami Hindustani are popularly spoken regional languages. Samarcaan is another Creole language which is predominantly spoken among the Surinamese of African descent.
It is worth noting that Surinamese speak more than one language, which makes the culture of Surinam much more diverse and vivid.
The Influence of Indigenous and Creole Languages on Surinamese Language
After learning the main language of Suriname, let us know how the Indigenous and Creole languages influenced the Surinamese language.
From 1667 to 1668, the Dutch gained control of Suriname and brought new African slaves. Though the earlier English people left the place with the arrival of the Dutch, the English language did not leave its trace. Surprisingly, the first recorded information by Africans was in English. Again, when the linguists dissected the Surinamese language, it was the Creole language of Dutch, Portuguese, African, English, and Sranan verbs.
Thus, the Sranan language is Creole, and it is spoken by almost the entire population of Suriname, either as the first language or as the second language. Though it is regarded as a lingua franca and a national language of Suriname, it has less status than Dutch, the official language.
The Impact of Colonialism on the Surinamese Language
When the Dutch colonized Suriname in 1667, they did not impose their national language as the lingua franca for communication; instead, they preferred to communicate with them in the local colonial vernacular language. The Sranan language gradually developed and diverged from the English language under the Dutch influence, beginning in about the eighteenth century.
The Dutch were the last Europeans to liberate the Surinamese, but they still had to work for ten years on the plantations with minimal wages. After the liberated Africans left the plantations in 1873, they were substituted by the East Indians, who mainly came from Calcutta, the Chinese, and thousands of Javanese contract workers from the island of Java in Indonesia.
What is the Language Policy and Education in Suriname?
Suriname's language policy embraces ancient indigenous dialects and globally recognized languages. The main official language, Dutch, is spoken by many schools. Since Dutch was a colonial language, the imposition of Dutch classes reflects the colonial history and administrative practices that continue as the language of instruction.
English and Spanish are among the foreign languages taught in schools, which help students broaden their linguistic skills, promote cultural exchange, and facilitate international communication.
The Dutch language remains a colonized hangover of the mind, which Surinamese people cannot forego. Those who have closer links with the Caribbean and North America desire English to be declared as the national language of Suriname. However, some people also profess their love for the Sranan language.
Though the education policy continues to regard Dutch as the main language, some children also celebrated the march against discrimination.
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Conclusion
By trying to trace the answer to the question of what is the main language in Suriname, we uncovered that this place in South America is a melting pot of diverse cultures and languages. Though there is more than one native language, no language can be assigned as the sole language of interaction for the native speakers.
However, Suriname has Dutch as its distinct language for education policy. In daily life, however, there is no language dominance as Tupian languages or Caribbean Creoles are used as day-to-day phrases.
FAQs
What is the Popular Language in Suriname?
It is difficult to assign a popular or distinct language in Suriname; however, Sranan Tongo or Taki-Taki is the most spoken language in this part of South America.
Which Languages are Spoken in Suriname?
Since Suriname is a mixed or melting pot of cultures, many languages are spoken in Suriname, including Dutch, English, Chinese, Sranan Tongo, Javanese Surinamese, and Sarnami Hindustani.
Do a Lot of People Speak English in Suriname?
Yes, a lot of people speak in English in Suriname because of the colonial hangover of the English Colonial masters who arrived before the Dutch colonialists.
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